Daniel Libeskind's "Star of David" at Center of Ohio Protest Over Public Art Proposal

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
By Joe Blundo

Some people don't like the Daniel Libeskind's Star of David in the design.

OHIO---Public-art proposals, if they’re ambitious enough, always raise a fuss. Before the Holocaust memorial, it was The Columbiad, the proposed, privately funded sculpture for the Scioto Mile that was derisively named the “cooling tower” by detractors when introduced in 2011. (I wasn’t too kind to it, either.) No application for approval of the sculpture has been filed, the Columbus Development Department says. But the project is still alive, and efforts continue to raise money to build it, said Rebecca Ibel, curator for art collector Ron Pizzuti, who is leading the effort. The Holocaust memorial, also privately funded (although the state will cover the site preparation), has already cleared official hurdles. Others could arise. [link]

The early objections have centered on three issues, none of which seems particularly important:

• The design, by architect Daniel Libeskind, includes a Star of David, a religious symbol that could lead to court challenges.
• The Star of David puts the focus on Jews, but other minority groups were also victims of the Holocaust.
• The memorial will look out of place at the Civil War-era Statehouse.